Chapter Forty-Nine: Mist and Rain
“What a wonderful aroma…” Even Shi Cai outside the window caught the scent. “Such fine tea! Once I deal with that fellow, I must seize it from him!”
Inside, the tea was boiling, its fragrance wafting through the room.
Yuan Feixue could hardly wait and hurriedly asked, “Brother Shi, is it ready?”
Shi Qi replied slowly, “No need to rush. It’s clear you’re not used to drinking tea. With these leaves, the first brew is to wash the tea; it must be poured away. You start drinking from the second brew.”
As he spoke, Shi Qi stood, walked to the window, and opened it to pour out the first steep of hot tea. By chance, he chose a different window this time, and the steaming tea landed squarely on Shi Cai’s head below.
“Ouch…” Shi Cai felt a scalding pain atop his head, but dared not shield himself with spiritual energy. He could only curse inwardly, “Damn you, Shi Qi, just wait until I get my hands on you!”
When the pot was emptied, Shi Qi shut the window and returned to Yuan Feixue’s side to prepare the second pot.
Soon, the water boiled, and the second brew was ready.
Shi Qi set out two cups, filling each more than halfway, then replaced the teapot and motioned to Yuan Feixue to taste.
Yuan Feixue lifted a cup and inhaled deeply; the rich fragrance seemed to invigorate him entirely. He took a tentative sip—pure and refreshing—the taste flooded his heart with serenity, as though all the world’s ease could be found in a single cup.
Though Yuan Feixue was unaccustomed to tea, he could not help but exclaim, “Exquisite!”
Shi Qi sipped as well, saying quietly, “This tea is my master’s treasure. Ever since I tasted it once, I’ve never forgotten it. To steal even this little tin, I endured more than a few beatings from my master.”
Yuan Feixue covered his mouth and laughed.
Their relationship felt closer than before. Throughout the night, the room was brightened by crisp laughter.
Shi Cai, realizing he had gathered no useful information, rubbed his reddened head, cursed, and burrowed underground to sleep.
At dawn, Shi Qi roused Su Xiaomu, and the three prepared for their journey to Mount Jiazi.
Exiting the inn and nearing the southern gate of Yongzhou City, Yuan Feixue suddenly felt something vibrating in his pocket. He drew it out to find the small token he’d received from the Human Alliance the day before.
After issuing a protection quest yesterday, Yuan Feixue had taken a small, black token from beneath the bronze mirror, assuming it was proof of the commission. He’d pocketed it without much thought.
Now, to his surprise, the token was vibrating on its own.
When Yuan Feixue held it, the vibration ceased, and he sensed a message.
“Hm?” Yuan Feixue stopped, puzzled.
“What’s wrong?” Shi Qi noticed his strange expression.
“This token just sent me a message. It says someone else has accepted my protection commission. The current number is two out of two.”
Shi Qi was puzzled. “I’m one of them. Who’s the other?”
“I don’t know,” Yuan Feixue replied.
Shi Qi said, “A job for a single spirit jade and someone took it? They must be a fool.”
No sooner had he spoken than a man in white appeared at the end of the alley, striding as if carried by the wind, exuding ethereal grace.
He looked to be in his twenties, clad in white Daoist robes, a folding fan in hand, his features refined and delicate. With some mysterious technique, he seemed to step lightly on air, leaving three afterimages with each stride, appearing before the three in a blink.
He stopped before Yuan Feixue, glanced at the token in Yuan’s hand, and produced an identical token from his own robes, holding it out as proof.
“Human Alliance?” Yuan Feixue asked. “You’re the other person who took my commission?”
The young man put away the token, flicked open his fan, and with a graceful flourish, held it to his chest, gently fanning himself.
“‘With bamboo staff and straw sandals, I’d outrun a horse, Cloaked in mist and rain, living life as I please.’”
He sighed lightly. “You must be my beautiful employer—a flower blooming in jade. Allow me to accompany you on this journey. My surname is Wang, but you may call me Misty Rain.”
Yuan Feixue stared, momentarily speechless. “This…”
Shi Qi thought to himself, This fellow seems oddly familiar. The last one to show off like this before me was Bai Qiu. They must be cut from the same cloth—spoiled young masters, both!
The self-styled Misty Rain glanced at Shi Qi and gave a look of disdain. “Hmph~”
Shi Qi shook his head and asked, “Hey, why did you take a protection commission for just a single spirit jade?”
Misty Rain shot back, “Why did you take one for just a single spirit jade?”
He added, “Also, my name isn’t ‘hey.’ It’s Misty Rain.”
Shi Qi replied, “I took it because I was the one who suggested she post the commission.”
Misty Rain said, “And I… well, I took it out of curiosity!”
“Curiosity?”
“I like odd and unusual quests. If the reward is only a spirit jade, there must be something different about it—maybe it’s even quite difficult. I like a challenge.”
Shi Qi mocked him, “Then why don’t you try taking on something from the quest board?”
Within the Human Alliance’s bronze mirror, the quest board listed only the toughest—some even considered impossible: things like hunting thousand-year spirits or apprehending the Four Great Villains wanted in all twelve provinces.
Misty Rain sniffed, “I like a challenge, but I’m not an idiot!”
Neither Yuan Feixue nor Shi Qi had expected that a commission for just a single spirit jade would attract, besides Shi Qi, such a… peculiar companion.
Shi Qi found that aside from his penchant for theatrics, the newcomer seemed harmless enough—and as a member of the Human Alliance, surely wouldn’t betray his fellows. If he did, the Alliance would hunt him to the ends of the earth.
Yuan Feixue said, “Well, let’s go. One more person means one more helping hand.”
Misty Rain folded his fan and cupped his hands. “The lady speaks wisely.”
Thus, the three became four. The group left Yongzhou’s southern gate and took to the sky, flying southward.
An hour later, Shi Cai awoke from his nap. He leapt from the ground, stretched, and listened for sounds within the inn.
A moment passed…
“Damn it! They left so early!” Shi Cai jumped up, cursing. He had overslept—had all of last night’s suffering been for nothing?
Fuming, he dove underground and sped south after them.
A day passed.
The four had covered about half the journey.
The road was mostly uneventful. Though some petty troublemakers appeared, they were easily repelled by Shi Qi and Misty Rain.
The awkward part was that these cultivators weren’t after Yuan Feixue, but had come in hopes of capturing Shi Qi, lured by rumors from Starpoint Manor, seeking to exchange him for powerful artifacts.
The four continued flying.
Misty Rain remarked with sarcasm, “Tsk tsk, just who is this protection mission protecting? Miss Yuan hasn’t had a single problem, but someone else seems to have no shortage of enemies.”
Shi Qi retorted, “Tsk tsk, and I haven’t seen a certain someone lift a finger—just ingratiating himself with cold shoulders.”
Misty Rain sniffed, “Hmph.”
Yuan Feixue could only smile helplessly. The two bickered endlessly, but when danger loomed, they became serious at once. Misty Rain, though he played the foppish dandy, proved to have no hidden malice and gradually earned Yuan Feixue and Shi Qi’s trust.
“We’re over halfway,” Yuan Feixue said. “If nothing unexpected happens, we should reach Mount Jiazi by tomorrow night.”
No sooner had the words left his lips than a flash of gold appeared ahead—a golden flying sword hurtling toward them.
“Your mouth is truly prophetic!” Shi Qi shouted, tossing out the Thousandfold Shield to block the attack.
“Who goes there?” Misty Rain called out.
A voice replied from ahead, aged and commanding, “Yuan Chengtian of Starpoint Manor!”
Shi Qi frowned. They’ve found me after all!
Underground, Shi Cai gasped for breath. “Damn it, finally caught up!”
Shi Cai had actually overtaken the four the previous day, learned their route, and sent a message by flying sword to Starpoint Manor’s master, Yuan Chengtian. Receiving the news, Yuan Chengtian had rushed over, arriving just as he located the group.
Misty Rain shrugged, “Starpoint Manor again… always after you.”
Shi Qi said gravely, “This opponent is different from the others.”
Misty Rain now sensed their adversary’s presence and cried, “Nascent Soul?!”
Yuan Chengtian’s voice arrived with his person, and he appeared before them.
“Oh?” He noticed his golden sword blocked by Shi Qi’s Thousandfold Shield and recognized it as no ordinary item.
He smiled. “You little thief—bringing monsters to raid my manor by night and stealing my treasures. Don’t you think you owe me an explanation today?”
Shi Qi feigned ignorance. “What? Who? What’s this about?”
Yuan Chengtian roared, “Still denying it?”
Shi Qi sneered, “Your Starpoint Manor returns evil for good and bullies the weak. If not for my resourcefulness, I’d have died at Yuan Chenglu’s hands. Shouldn’t you be explaining yourselves to me?”
Yuan Chengtian snapped, “No matter what, you won’t escape today. Return what you stole, and surrender your treasures, and I’ll let you go.”
Shi Qi replied, “That won’t do. I think we should compensate you double—and add ten thousand spirit jades as well.”
Yuan Chengtian paused. “Are you mocking me?”
Shi Qi smiled. “You started the joke.”
Yuan Chengtian’s fury erupted. “You dare toy with me!”
He swept his sleeve, and a burst of golden light shot forth, forming a giant net in midair that descended upon the four.
“Damn you, Shi Qi! This is not worth a single spirit jade!” Misty Rain shouted, then pulled a small triangular flag from his robes and cried, “Break!”
A rush of crimson light shot from the flag, pierced through Yuan Chengtian’s golden net, and the four escaped.
Yuan Chengtian’s eyes lit up. “What a marvelous little flag!”
He rejoiced inwardly—today he might not only reclaim the Golden Sunstone, but also seize these two boys’ ancient shield and flag. The four were merely at the Core Formation stage, while he was already mid-stage Nascent Soul. They would never escape his grasp. These treasures would soon be his!